Adapter for gem setting device



Feb. 28, 1956 D, G. WOOD 2,736,025

ADAPTER FOR GEM SETTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 15, 1954 United States Patent ADAPTER FOR GEM SETTING DEVICE Dan G. Wood, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Dorothy Dahl, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application August 13, 1954, Serial No. 449,734

6 Claims. (Cl. 150) This invention vrelates to an adapter for a hand operated ggern setting tool of the type having a spring pressed pin projecting from its driving plunger, andis particularly concerned with means for enabling such tool to be used to set gems or nail heads of different sizes.`

Dresses, belts, hand bags, scarfs, and similarV articles worn Vor carried by women are often decorated with v arious gems, nail heads, or other ornamental articles. Different types of hand operated tools for'setting such ornaments on a suitable backing are available to the public, but all have the disadvantage of being limitedV to use with-gemsy of a single size.

In accordance with the present invention, each adapter is designedfor use with one specic size of gem'or other ornament, and any of the adapters may-be easily appliedl to' or removed from the gem setting tool to make lpossible the securement of gems orother ornaments of dif# ferent sizes to a single article.

The adapter of the present invention is made of two parts, an outer member adapted to removably lit on the outer end of a conventional` gem setting tool, and a plunger adapted to fit within the outer member and engageable by the driving` plunger of the conventional tool to set a` gem, nail head, orfother ornament of a lsize differentfrom theY size which' theconventional tool "is adapted to set. The upper end of thevada'pted plunger which is positioned adjacent the spring pressed pin in the conventional gem setting tool is provided'with an axial recess large enough to receive the spring pressed pin sov thatethel lower end of the plunger off the conventional tool may engage the upper end of the adapter plunger to drive it tov gem. setting positionk when the handle is pressed downwardly. The lower end of the adapter plunger has an annular at. surface adjacent itsY peripheryr and a centrally disposed concave recess. so that` in may be used with gems or other ornaments having eithera flat or a roundedback.'

The structure by which the above and other advantages of the invention are attained will be described in the` following specification, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing showing a preferred4 illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is` a longitudinal sectionall view throughf a conventional gem setting tool with the adapter embody-` ing this invention secured thereto, the parts beingV shown in the position occupied at thestart' ofv thea setting-operation with a nail head in position to be set;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the tool atthevend of thenail head setting. operation;

Fig. 3` is a detail perspective View of the-outer membery of the adapter;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the adapter plunger; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragementary cross sectional view ofthe adapter with the prongs of the nail head forced through the fabric backing.

Int the drawings, the,v reference .numera12 indicates Vthe head1of thesetting tool. Headf2-may beimadeioffwoo d,:`

ice i plastic, or any other suitable material and is of a size that will lit comfortably into the palm of the hand. The head is shown as being spherical, but it maybe any shape that can iit comfortably into the users palm. A recess 3 extends a substantial distance into the head and is counterbored, as indicated at 4, to provide an annular shoulder S.

A rigid tubular shaft 6, drive tted into recess 3, is provided at its lower end with an enlarged end 7 provided with an axial bore 8 which is restricted slightly relative to the inside diameter of tubular shaft 6. A pin 9 positioned in the tubular shaft comprises an enlarged cylindrical head portion 10 slidably fitting within tubular shaft 6, a shank portion 11 slidably fitting within axial bore 8 and a tapered end portion 12. In the normal operation of the conventional gem setting tool, tapered end portion 12 is engageable with the mountingto hold it llat until it is engaged by enlarged end 7 of tubular shaft 6. Pin 9 is urged downwardly by a spring 13 mounted in tubular shaft 6. Spring 13 has one end bearing against pin 9 and its other end bearing againstl a cylindrical block 1'4 held in shaft 6 by a circumferential rib 15.

An outer cylindrical sleeve 16 which ts slidably in counterbore 4 also fits slidably over enlarged head 7 of shaft6. A circumferential rib 17 pressed inwardlyfrom sleeve 16 prevents separation of the sleeve from the gem terbore 4 and its other end bearing against the upper edge ofY rib 17. Spring 18 urges sleeve 16 downwardly so that when. the lower edge of the sleeve is held down against the anvil 19, with which the gern setting tool is normally exerted against head 2 in the downward di rection will force enlarged end 7 downwardly to set a gem mounted in the anvil. As soon as the force is re leased, spring 18 will move sleeve 16 back into its nor mal position, and: the tool will beV ready for another gem setting operation.

The adapterv comprises an outer member 2l) and a. plunger 21. Outer member 20 comprises a cylindrical: portion 22 having an internal diameter recessed, as indi-v cated at 30, to t snugly on the lower end of sleeve 16;. The cylindrical portion of the outer member may be press; fitted on sleeve 16, or may be resilient and fitted fric-- tionally on the sleeve. It is also possible, if desired, to-

secure the cylindrical portion of outer member 20 to the lower end portionz of lsleeve 16 by screw threads or by arr interengaging pin and bayonet slot connection.

The lower end of adapter member 2t) tapers inwardly, asindicated at 23, so that its bottom 24 is only slightlyr larger than the gem or nail head 25 to be set. This; relationship between the cross sectional area of the bot-v tom of the adapter and the corresponding cross sectional? area of the gem or nail head to be set facilitates posi-` tioning of-the:too1 for the setting operation. rThe cup: 26 of the anvil 19 in which the gem is set for the gern setting operation has sloping side walls shaped to permit'. the relativelysmall bottom 24 of the adapter to be po sitioned close yto the gem to be set.

The tapered portion 23 of member 20 is provided with-Y an axial bore 27 that is dimensioned in accordance with the size',v of the, gem or nail head it is intended to set. Plunger 21 comprises a shank ZSadapted to lit slidably in= axial bore 27 and an enlarged cylindrical head 29 adaptedA to fit slidably'within the lower end portion of cylindrical sleeve 16. The inner surface of the cylindrical portion 22 isV recessed, as indicated at 30, to receive the lower end of sleeve 16, so that the adjoining portions of the inner' surfacesof sleeve 16' andv member 20 along whichcylin drical Vhead 29islides areflush.

The top surface 31 of head 29, which is engaged by the bottom of enlarged end 7 of tubular shaft 6 and driven downwardly thereby when force is applied to head 2 to set a gem or nail head 25, is normally positioned below and adjacent the bottom of end 7. In order to maintain plunger 21 in the desired position, with space for the mounting or nail head within axial bore 27, top surface 3l is provided with an axial recess 32 to receive tapered end 12.

The bottom of shank 28 is provided with a concave recess 33 surrounded by an annular ilat surface 345 so that it may be used for setting gems or nail heads having flat or rounded surfaces, as desired.

A series of adapters may be provided for a single gem setting tool to enable the same tool to De used with gems or nail heads of any normal size. Each outer member of the adapters has its upper cylindrical portion 22 recessed to provide a uniform internal cross section to enable it to t snugly around the outer surface of the lower end portion of sleeve 6 of the gem setting tool. Each member has an axial bore 27 of a diameter differing from the diameters of the other members 20, in accordance with the different sizes of gern or nail heads to be set. The upper cylindrical portion 29 of each plunger 21 is of uniform diameter to fit slidably within the lower portion of sleeve 16. Each plunger has a shank of substantially the same diameter as the axial bore 27 of the member 20 with which it is intended to be used.

The assembly of the adapter and gem setting tool is very simple. Plunger 21 is dropped into outer member 20 with shank 28 tting into axial bore 27. The cylindrical portion 22 of member 2t) is then pushed on to the lower end of sleeve 16 until the sleeve abuts the end of recess 30.

The operation of the gem setting tool is essentially the same regardless of whether an adapter is applied to the tool to adapt it for use with gems or nail heads of different sizes. A gem to be set is positioned in cup 26 of anvil 19 with its back uppermost. A suitable backing is then laid over the gem and anvil with its wrong side uppermost. A mounting is then positioned in axial bore 27 with its prongs extending outwardly. The end 24 of the adapter is positioned against the backing and the gem and then handle 2 is pressed downwardly.

The operation for setting a nail head is slightly different in that the backing 35 is laid over the anvil with its right side uppermost. The nail head is positioned in axial bore 27 with its prongs 36 extending outwardly. The end 24 of the adapter is positioned over the right side of the backing with the prongs 36 aligned with cup 26. Downward force against head 2 causes end 7 of shaft 6 to engage plunger 21 to drive it downwardly so that shank 28 moves the nail head downwardly and the sloping side walls of cup 26 curl prongs 36 inwardly against backing 35 to secure the nail head in place. During the downward movement of tubular shaft 6 the tapered end l2 of pin 9 remains in axial recess 32 as the pin moves downwardly with the shaft 6, so that no extra pressure is required to counteract the force of spring 13.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modied or changed without departing .from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described.

I claim:

l. An adapter for a gem setting tool having a cylindrical sleeve, a tubular shaft mounted for sliding movement in said sleeve, and a spring-pressed pin projecting from said shaft, said adapter comprising an outer member` and a plunger, said outer member having a cylindrical upper portion frictionally engageable with the peripheral surface of saidsleeve to secure said adapter to said tool, said outer member having an axial bore extending through its lower end, said plunger having a shank mounted for sliding movement in said axial bore and an upper cylindrical portion mounted for sliding movement in said sleeve, the top surface of said plunger having an axial recess to receive the projecting end of said spring-pressed pin when said adapter is secured to the gem setting tool.

2. An adapter for a gem setting tool having a cylindrical sleeve and a pin mounted for sliding movement in said sleeve, said adapter comprising an outer member secured to said sleeve and a plunger slidable in said outer member, the upper end of said plunger having an axial recess to receive the lower end of said pin.

3. An adapter for a gem setting tool having a cylindrical sleeve and a pin mounted for sliding movement in said sleeve, said adapter comprising an outer member having a cylindrical portion recessed internally to tit snugly on the lower end portion of said sleeve, said outer member having an axial bore through its lower end, and a plunger mounted for sliding movement in said outer member, said plunger having an upper cylindrical portion slidably tting within said sleeve and the cylindrical portion of said outer member, said plunger having a shank slidable through said axial bore, the upper end of said plunger having an axial recess to receive the lower end of said pin whereby said plunger may be moved downwardly by downward movement of said pin.

4. An adapter for a gem setting tool having a cylindrical sleeve for frictionally holding a pronged mounting of predetermined size and a pin mounted for sliding movement in said sleeve, said pin being adapted to clinch the prongs of a mounting positioned in said sleeve against an ornament upon downward movement of said pin, said adapter comprising an outer member detachably secured to the lower portion of said sleeve, said adapter having an axial bore for frictionally holding a pronged mounting of a predetermined size, and a plunger mounted for sliding movement in said outer member, the upper end of said plunger adapted to iit within said sleeve and provided with an axial recess to receive the lower end of said pin wherebysaid plunger is moved downwardly by downward movement of said pin, said plunger having a shank slidably f1tting said axial bore, said shank being adapted to clinch the prongs of a mounting positioned in said axial bore against an ornament upon downward movement of said plunger.

5. A gern setting tool comprising a cylindrical sleeve adapted to frictionally hold a pronged mounting of predetermined size, a pin mounted for slidable movement axially of said sleeve for clinching the prongs of a mounting positioned in said sleeve against an ornament, an adapter detachably secured to the lower end of said sleeve, said adapter comprising an outer member having an axial bore to frictionally hold a pronged mounting of a predetermined size, and a plunger mounted for sliding movement in said outer member, said pin engaging the upper end of said plunger to move said plunger downwardly as said pin is moved downwardly, said plunger having a shank slidable in said axial bore for clinching the prongs of a mounting positioned in said bore against an ornament upon downward movement of said plunger.

6. A hand operated tool adapted to cooperate with an anvil for setting ornaments on a fabric backing, said tool comprising a head provided with a recess extending inwardly from its periphery, a cylindrical sleeve having one end mounted for sliding movement in said recess, said sleeve being adapted to frictionally hold a pronged mounting of predetermined size, a pin mounted for axial sliding movement in said sleeve, the lower end of said pin being engageable with a pronged mounting positioned in said sleeve to clinch its prongs against an ornament when said pin is moved downwardly, an adapter comprising an outer member detachably secured to the lower portion of said sleeve, an axial bore extending through the lower end of said adapter to frictionally hold a pronged mounting of a predetermined size, and a plunger mounted for sliding movement in said outer member, said plunger having a shank fitting within said axial bore for sliding movement therethrough, the upper end of said plunger fitting within said sleeve and having a recess to receive the lower end of said pin whereby said plunger may be moved downwardly by downward movement of said pin to clinch the prongs of a mounting positioned in said bore against an ornament.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Devendor May 16, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 16, 1928 

